Sunday, October 15, 2023
Fiction Taking Place During Covid. - Well It Is in the Horror Genre
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Wednesday Check In! Less than 3 weeks til Halloween!
Sunday, October 1, 2023
Spooky Season is Officially Here- #TheSundayPost!
The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme
Boy did September fly by, and here we are October! Such a fun month and really hasn't it become the unofficial start of the holiday season? In just a few weeks Hallmark will begin the Countdown to Christmas with loads of new Christmas movies! But back to Spooky Season, I love seasonal reading so this time of year I'm usually found reading witchy cozy mysteries or fun paranormal romance. Speaking of Hallmark and Cozy Mysteries, did you see that the book Murder in G Major is now a movie? I have not seen the movie yet, because I havne't restarted my subscription to frndy TV; but I'll be restarting that in a couple of weeks.
I made my Harvest Moon Soup Friday and it turned out well, I couldn't find fresh sage for the soup, so I substituted thyme for the sage and it was delicious. Do you have a favorite herb? Thyme is mine, especially in the fall and winter, it's perfect with any root vegetables.
Happy October, do you have any season fun planned for this month?
Books I'm currently reading:
Sunday, September 24, 2023
It's Good, But Why is this Book So LONG- A Court of Mist and Fury
After listening to A Court of Thorns and Roses, I was in no hurry to continue the series because I didn't like Feyre and Tamlin as a couple. I didn't like Tamlin and Feyre was so boring with him. She goes from being a warrior to a princess flouncing around in gowns and painting.
But a podcast I listen to sang the praises of this book, so I said, fine I'll give this a shot. And yes, much better. HOWEVER, the book is ridiculously long and too repetitive, and so I rated it a 3. It's good but if it was 200 pages shorter, it would have been fantastic. Why are the books in this series so long, I'm listening at 2x speed and it's still taking forever--and the ending isn't the ending it's the end til the next book starts, so shorten it up!
Have you read this series? Did you think this book could have been edited down?
***
We are still enjoying amazing September weather in Chicagoland, temps are in the 70s (low 20s Celcius) during the day and 50s (mid teens celsius) at night. Just the best. For my birthday I got myself a Stich Fix and it included two cute sweaters and it hasn't been cool enough to wear them, but I figure we only have a couple of weeks --at the most before it will truly be sweater weather.
Tuesday, October 5, 2021
A Couple of Short, Seasonal, and Slightly Spooky Listens
I love this time of year, I love the decorating, the food, and of course the ghost stories! I found a couple of short listens via audible and the Libby app from my library.
The first is an audio play of the famous Agatha Christie book And Then There Were None. The audio play is from the BBC and crams the book into a very digestible hour and about twelve minutes. It's a great accompaniment to walk in the woods, or while raking leaves, or baking a pumpkin pie! The plot of And Then There Were None is clear in the title. There is a group of people and someone is picking them off one by one. The mystery is not that people are going to die, it's the who and the why. And if you want more Agatha Christie there is a good adaptation of Crooked House streaming right now.
Friday, October 30, 2020
When No One is Watching Review and A New Recipe
When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
An excellent thriller! As I read I could not see any way out for Sydney and Theo--I had to keep reading to see where this story was going to go. I appreciated the history lessons interspersed in this fictional version of Brooklyn, I was very glad to see that Alyssa Cole included sources for more information on Weeksville, New Yor because I did not know of Weeksville and now I would like to learn more about its story.
The story was loaded with tension, the two Point-of-view characters were slowly unveiled as their lives were unraveling, and history lessons are shared with the readers who probably didn't learn any of this in school.
I'd love to see HBO make this book a limited series.
View all my reviews
This was my first time cooking Spaghetti Squash in the slow cooker. This recipe was easy to follow. I used ground turkey instead of ground beef. I added fresh basil, a couple extra garlic cloves and a tablespoon of Italian blend seasoning. I also added a pinch of sugar to offset the acidity of the tomatoes and I cooked tomato paste before adding it to the pot. Here is a link to the recipe from Real Simple magazine: Slow-Cooker Ragu with Spaghetti Squash.
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Remember My Abundance of Apples?
Here is a recipe I found from the Minimalist Baker blog: Easy Cinnamon Baked Apples I made some substitutions based on what I had on hand. I used flour instead of cornstarch, I used 1/3 cup granulated sugar and 1/3 cup pure maple syrup, I left out the nutmeg (because I had none) I added some lemon zest with the tablespoons of lemon juice. I also used more fresh grated ginger than the recipe stated. I am quite glad I did because I used enuogh that you could taste ginger in each bit, but it wasn't overpowering. The Hubs had purchased Hudsonville Cinnamon Sugar Cookie Ice Cream so that is the ice cream you see with the baked apples.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the second book in the series. It's a seasonal novella, you can sit down on a cold October night after the kiddos are done ringing your doorbell demanding candy and slip away to Victoria Town.
I like Viv our protagonist, she has a wry sense of humor and it's fun to tag along inside her head. In this installment, I thought that Viv's Aunt Libby was less judgemental than in the first book and more involved in the sleuthing. I liked the build-up to the killer's reveal.
View all my reviews
Sunday, October 25, 2020
The Last Week of October is Already Here! Witches! Warlocks!
Halloween is coming up this Saturday and then a week from today the time changes and we will be in the dark until March. As you know by now, I am always in the mood to curl up with a good book, and what better time to read about witches and warlocks than now as the temps drop and the nights start before dinner is on the table. Below is a review of a book I can say is one of the best new books this year. If you enjoy contemporary fantasy or paranormal books. You have to get this book because you are going to love it.
White Trash Warlock by David R. SlaytonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I finished this book a few days ago and I find myself thinking about the story at random moments like when I am washing the dishes. I'm thinking about how I was not surprised about one part of a major plot reveal because it was so very well foreshadowed so I knew something was up, but when the whole truth comes out, it's so much deeper and more impactful.
This book is in the top five of all books I have read this year. It's a great ride and I highly recommend it. David Slayton does such a beautiful job of giving us a cohesive world that spans several dimensions and in those worlds, David gives us just the right amount of fully drawn characters. I cannot wait to read what happens next.
One last thing, I really really like the love triangle. It's there, but it isn't overwhelmingly angsty.
View all my reviews
Thursday, October 22, 2020
What's a Cook To Do When You Have Apples, Lots of Apples!
I asked the hubs to get me 3 Honey Crisp Apples from the store and he brought home three bags of apples. One bag of Honey Crisp, one bag of Golden Delicious and one bag of Gala apples.
Here is the Apple Crisp Recipe I tried
An old picture with some lovely fall foliage!
Because I follow many Cozy Mystery writers on social media, I found this podcast All Things Cozy. The Cozy lifestyle is my jam. In the most recent episode, I listened to one of the hosts talked about Yankee Candle called warm and cozy. It's supposed to smell like a bonfire in the fall. I had Kohl's cash, and I decided today was a good day to order that candle- so hopefully I'll get a notice from Kohl's and be able to pick that candle up and see if it lives up to its name!
I double-checked my order and sadly, it seems that I am going to have to wait until next week to get my candle. That's not cozy!
I've been working on living my best Spooky Season life this week. I've painted pumpkins and I made my scarecrow for the front porch. A week from Saturday is Halloween! I hope you and yours have been enjoying some Autumnal Fun!
It rained all night last night, so I'm waiting to put out my scarecrow until this weekend. It will be sheltered, but I want to avoid having a soggy wet blob on our front porch!
Monday, October 19, 2020
13 days until Halloween! How are you celebrating the Season?
Because I have the "I Heart Radio" on my phone, I got a notification today for what they call a 3-D podcast for Halloween. It's like Tales from the Crypt for your ears, lots of background sounds as you listen to a creepy story this is less than 30 minutes. A great way to enjoy the spooky month of October while you are cooking, cleaning, or walking the dog.
Yesterday afternoon I was making phone calls to voters and while no one could see me, I decided why not wear some Autumnal Aldi gear. How cute are these socks! The green leggings are also from Aldi. I'm glad I embraced the legging lifestyle, I may never wear pants that button or zip again.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
If you grew up reading tales of King Arthur and you love reading cozy mysteries, you've got to read this book!
This novella length book has a decent mystery and a nice cast of characters. Even though this is a paranormal, I would say there is one small plot point that is a bit hard to believe, but I decided to go with it and not let one small thing stop my general enjoyment of the book.
Hermione Moon has created a lovely town that you'll want to visit again and again!
View all my reviews
Thursday, October 15, 2020
#FraterfestRAT Day One!
It's here! A great excuse to immerse myself in spooky season. Today I started listening to Mexican Gothic. Tonight I am going to finish reading One Dark and Stormy Knight and today I also picked up a book I had a hold on at the library, I'm so glad that I get to read this for the Fraterfest Read a Thon: Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas Oh and also I'll be reading the new release - White Trash Warlock
Join me and read some spooky/cozy paranormal/YA paranormal/Halloween themed books! You can even win prizes! Click Here So if the weather is gloomy, download a book or grab one from your local library and spend some time cozied up in a chair. --And let me know what you are reading! I love book recommendations!
Sunday, October 11, 2020
What I'm Up To This Week -Halloween Talk!
My favorite kinds of ravioli are back at Aldi! Yum! If you haven't tried these yet, go get some. Pumpkin and Sage as well as Butternut Squash. Trader Joe's has an Autumn Alfredo which is great with these or you can just use a little melted or browned butter. Delicious for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
Saturday, October 10, 2020
Great Idea To Celebrate Halloween - And A Book Recommendation!
by
A friend recommended this series to me, I got the first book from Amazon. I think the series is part of Kindle Unlimited. There are many cozy mysteries and romance books included with Kindle Unlimited and I think it's finally time to take the plunge and get the subscription!
The book is on the short side which is perfect for a cold and gloomy fall day. This book takes place in the late 1800s, but in a world where the paranormal is all around us but The Society keeps it from regular humans. The main character in this book, Mrs. Knight, is a very capable woman with a dry sense of humor so I found her to be very relatable-- however, she can see auras and can smell werewolves, and alas, I cannot.
One of the most enjoyable parts of the book for me I don't want to share because it would be spoilery. It was at the climax of the book and I was glad to see it.
This is a fun series at any time of year, but during the spooky season, treat yourself to this adventure!
Thursday, October 1, 2020
It's Here! Spooky Season is Here!
Kicked off October with a fall salad that Tom said was very good. Then I drove middle child to the train so he could go downtown for one class. I am definitely seeing some spooky decorations going up. I hope everyone really gets into the Halloween decorating spirit this year.
All the Halloween spirit helps me as I am working on my Halloween themed Cozy Mystery. Will I ever get published? Who knows I have decided just to write what I enjoy reading and go from there.
The recipe here included feta. What I made is the salad without feta. I added more pepper, vinegar, and arugula than the recipe called for this time. Makes for a light meal or a side dish! Also is tasty with a nice pumpkin beer. This one has some really nice spices. The hubs did a make your own six-pack and this was one of the offerings at Binny's. The beer is a really nice golden color. I have little 8 oz mason jelly jars I like to use -- portion control!
Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Spooky Season is Almost Upon Us! Who's Excited for October?
In the fall I enjoy reading/listening to spooky/light horror/paranormal books. I used an audible credit to listen to this book and I listen to the book at 1.3 speed. I enjoyed this reader and would listen to other books read by her.
This book is YA and it has some of your classic YA tropes. Alexis Henderson does a fine job creating a creepy atmosphere and throughout the book, I was not sure who was 'bad and who was 'good'. I liked that I was constantly questioning everyone's motives. I could not even be sure Immanuelle was a reliable narrator.
This isn't the sort of horror that will give you nightmares or make you freak out about a bump in the night, it is the sort of horror that really puts one in the Halloween spirit. Oh now if you do want to take to the next level, listen to it while you walk in the woods, at night.
Four Stars!
Saturday, September 26, 2020
Soups On! In Which I Try a New Soup Recipe!
Got a copy of the Women's Day, yes I have a couple magazine subscriptions. I like to flip through an occasional magazine and to circle things, tear out pages, put post-it notes on pages to remember.
This recipe is a potato corn chowder and the reason I decided to try it was because you make it in the slow cooker.
I added more corn, garlic, chorizo, and thyme than the recipe calls for and I skipped the half and half, but I did add some sour cream right before serving. It's a lot of chopping and then waiting while it cooks in the crockpot you can make it on low for like 6 hours or 3-4 on high. I think if you made it on the stove it would take 40-60 minutes? I think that you could add 1/4 a cup of white wine if you wanted to do that. If you are Gluten Free just don't use the 2 tbsp of flour. If you are vegan, skip the chorizo and veggie crumbles and use vegetable broth instead of chicken.
Saturday, September 19, 2020
Watching Fall Cooking and A Nice Afternoon Mystery!
The highs are in the low 70s with sweater weather at night and I am ready to try all the fall recipes--and at the same time, I'm not really in the mood to cook. What is a person to do?
Watch fall-themed cooking shows! Food Network has a streaming service and I had a deal for one free year of the service so here I am binging the best Food Network has to offer in Autumn programming.
One episode of The Kitchen is start-to-finish recipes I would actually want to make. The link is here for the video and below is the description of the episode:
"The Kitchen celebrates Fall with the two stars of the season: squash and pumpkins! Katie Lee makes her sticky-sweet Grilled Pumpkin BBQ-Glazed Pork Chops and Sunny Anderson whips up her Quick Wild Rice and Sausage Stuffed Mini Butternut Squash. Jeff Mauro makes a creamy Cacio e Pepe e Zucca pasta, and Katie puts her spin on squash with Spaghetti Squash Crust Pizza. Baker Renato Poliafito brings some pumped up Pumpkin Whoopie Pies and Geoffrey Zakarian spices things up with his Maple Chai Spiced Pepitas."
I really need to stop watching TV on an empty stomach. I am hungry but I don't want to get up and go downstairs to cook! Ha!
Here is a review of a book I recently won in a giveway-
FOUR STARS
I enjoyed this novella. The story made for a nice afternoon escape. I found the gothic nature of the murder interesting and I found the main character interesting as she was much more introverted than your typical cozy mystery protagonist. I have mixed feelings about her aunt. I hope that in future installments Viv makes a local friend and finds a way to be able to use her computer skills legally to help people since that seems to be something she excels at and likes to do.
The backdrop of a town immersed in the Victorian age, with all the tech and conveniences of modern 2000s life is interesting. I am looking forward to grabbing a PSL or a golden Tumeric latte and reading the next book in the series as it is themed for Fall!
This is a good read to have on your phone or tablet to read when you are waiting at an appointment or if you take public transportation to and from work.
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Did I predict the future?
Three years ago today I said this "Tip for the day: It's almost Halloween, so skip the makeup this morning and get a little more sleep."
As I stood at the train station this morning waiting for my train and scrolling through Facebook the above status update popped up in my memories from three years ago. I thought to myself. That's a good post, I'm pretty funny sometimes.
Then I realized...I had forgotten to put on any makeup before leaving for work! Look at me, predicting the future!
If only I had used my magical powers to play the billion dollar Powerball. Alas It would seem I can
Happy #NationalCandyCornDay !!! Will you be buying a bag to enjoy or throw directly into the trash? Candy Corn brings out strong opinions!
Monday, October 22, 2018
When was the last time you tried something new?
This was the same girl who said previously, "I'm never joining marching band, marching band is like a full-time job." The first couple days were rough, not knowing how things worked and where to go and how to act, but after a few weeks she was warming up to it. This was due, not in small part, to the band matching up Seniors to mentor Freshman. By the time band camp arrived-- note, I didn't know band camp was really a thing--she was all in.
Saturday was the last marching band performance of the year at the University of Illinois, it was about 20 degrees below zero outside and the wind was a brisk 30ish miles per hour. We froze as we watching the band perform, and we respected Ms. Anna's request that we not acknowledge her in any way. If you ask her how the band did, she will tell you they had a bad run. She is more critical of the ensemble than the band director! What I saw was all the kids giving it everything they had all season long. In the aftermath of the season finale, Anna has now been hit with the cold that has been going around school for weeks.
Moral of the story, nudging a teenager to try something, to push themselves, can work. Really, this also goes for adults, especially those long past the high school years. Give yourself a nudge, try something new, push yourself.
xoxo